N/a’an ku sê and Jolie-Pitt Foundation, in partnership with Dr Jannes Brandt, is changing lives by offering free eye surgery to San Bushman

Through this partnership, we have so far been able to offer free eye surgery to four San Bushman and one of these lucky patients is 67 year old Katrina Plaatjies from Skoonheid who recently received vital surgery to restore her vision. Skoonheid is a resettlement programme about 40 km away from the Lifeline clinic, where N/a’an ku sê does regular outreach work in support of Dr Helene de Kok. 

During one of these visits, the Lifeline Clinic’s Doctor, Dr Treadgold, diagnosed that Katrina had bilateral dense cataracts that caused functional blindness. The complicated surgery involves the removal of the natural lens of the eye and replacing with an artificial lens implant. Many patients' first symptoms are a strong glare from lights and small light sources at night, along with reduced acuity at low light levels and, if untreated, this can lead to loss of vision. 

Katrina was transported to Windhoek to meet with consultant, Dr Jannes Brandt, who assessed her visual level and undertook the necessary surgery to rectify the debilitating vision. After the operation she stayed on N/a’an ku sê Farm, where she has family, for a week to receive follow up treatment and consultation with Dr Jannes Brandt. 

Examination after a few days showed that Katrina’s visual acuity in the eye had gone from practically blind to much improved eyesight. This would also improve with the addition of reading glasses that will be provided for free. Katrina is delighted with the success of the surgery and is now very keen to have the second eye operated on!

Stats and Achievements April 2011

From January to March our Lifeline clinic saw a total of 826 patients, 304 of whom were children, 182 of these were under 5.  Our doctor treated illnesses connected to HIV and TB, malnutrition, abdominal pains and diarrhoea, burns, abscesses, chest infections, bacterial infections, epilepsy and assaults, to name but a few.

Without the Lifeline Clinic and the provision of a doctor these people would have gone without treatment. Our clinic is situated 120km from the nearest hospital in Gobabis and many of our patients are too poor to afford state medical care. Our clinic is vital to the lives and health of these people.